Planned Temple's Roof A Concern At Hearing

MIDDLEFIELD — It appears that the only stumbling block to a proposed Eckankar temple's being erected in town is the color of its roof.

Wednesday night, representatives of Eck, a nonprofit religious organization, appeared before the planning and zoning commission during the continuation of a public hearing that started last month.

Representatives of Eck presented a site plan amended to address the complaints of Harvest Wood Road residents. The temple is proposed for land at Harvest Wood and Route 66.

The new plans eliminate a second driveway on the south end of the property, reduce the size of a parking lot, add plantings and expand a natural buffer at the south end of the property from 50 feet to 100 feet.

That was not enough for some residents and board members. Most of the roof of the 5,100-square-foot building will have brown shingles. But an eight-sided dome that Eck members want to be a shade of gold left opponents shaking their heads. They are afraid the roof will destroy the look of the neighborhood.

David Royston, an attorney for Eck, said he is not sure the commission has the right to dictate the color of the roof.

Bob Lawton, the regional Eck spiritual aide for Connecticut, the highest-ranking member of the group in the state, said the color holds special significance.

The dome will be over the sanctuary where religious services are held. Lawton said the color represents the ``golden-hearted soul.'' He said Eck followers believe in different levels of heaven, and the golden level is the highest.

Eck representatives said neighbors will be proud of the building.

Royston told the commission that although everything is being done to make sure the building fits into the neighborhood, it is not a house.

``At some point you are going to have to say, `It's a temple and it looks like a temple,' '' Royston said.

Eckankar is an Eastern-based religion that made its debut in the United States in the 1960s.

The planning and zoning commission closed the public hearing on the temple's plans Wednesday and will make its decision later.